Vewtilating-mattress



N. PETERS. FHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON, D Cv N PETERS. PHOTO-LIYHnGRAPHER, WASHINGTUN. D C4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS TOLMAN, OF WEST TOWNSEND, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN P. SABEN, OF FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS.

vENTILATING-MATTRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 18,886, dated December 15, 1857.

To all whom t may Concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS TOLMAN, of TWest Townsend, county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a novel and useful Self-Ventilating Bed; and I hereby make the declaration that the following specification, in connection with the accompanying drawings and references thereon, constitute a lucid, clear, and exact description of the construction and use of the same.

In referring to the said drawings, Figure l, denotes a plan or top view. Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3, an under side view of it. F ig. 4, a longitudinal and vertical section on line A, B, of Fig. l.

Invention: The nature of my invention consists of the bed hereafter described, so constructed and provided with a valve, so connected to, and relatively arranged with it, that the using of the bed will ventilate it, all as will be hereafter seen.

Construction: To enable persons skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to constructand carry out the same, I will describe it as follows.

I construct a frame of wood as seen at A, To the lower part of it, I fasten a number of wooden cross slats seen at B. I construct a number of spiral springs seen at J which are placed upon and fastened by the loops K, to the upper side of each of the slats B, on which the upper part of the bed is supported and which imparts to it the desired elasticity. To the top of the edges of the frame A there are cords L attached by means of wire loops or otherwise, and passed first at right angles with and over the frame A and tied firmly by the knots c, to each top part of the springs J, with which -they come in contact, or intersect, and their opposite ends are fastened to other loops in the opposite edges or part of the top of the frame A. After these cords L are passed at right angles over, and fastened or tied to the tops of the springs J, other similar cords L, are passed angularly over and with the sides and ends of the frame A, and are also fastened or tied to the springs J, by the knots a, and also to the other cords where they intersect with them, by the knots seen at and c, the ends of these cords are fastened to the frame A, by loops driven in the frame or otherwise as may be desired. The springs J, should not be nfastened to the bedding, for if that is done, they will be swayed over by the movement of the bed, or weight upon it, and consequently lose their elastic power. The bedding should be independent of the springs J, as within described. r

After the cords L are all arranged and fastened as just stated, so as to give the top of the bed a true oval shape, I take a strong piece of cloth seen at F and large enough to cover the entire frame A, and which is supported by the spring J, and place it on the top of the cords L and springs J, and nail its edges to the edges of the frame A. On and all around the top edges of the frame A, I form a semicircular ridge, by first nailing of the cloth C, to the outer edge of the frame A, then doubling it over to the inside and then sewing it to the cloth F, leaving a space D, which is filled with wadding or other elastic substance, this to cover the edges of the wooden frame so that these edges or corners will not come in contact with the person reposing on the bed. Then I lay a quantity of wadding E on the cloth F and between the ridges D, enough to fill up even to the top of these ridges, then I put on the outside cloth or top G, which forms the eX- terior covering for the whole top, sides and ends of the bed, and is turned in on the under edges of the frame A, and is nailed firmly thereto.

The underside or bottom of the bed is composed of cloth seen at R, and firmly nailed to the under edges of the frame A, then underneath them, and all around the edge of the frame A, I fasten a strip I, by wood screws which eectually holds the cloth R to the frame A, and also prevents its wearing. The cloth for covering the bottom should be thick and tightly woven, and wholly impervious to air. The cloth of the top should not be impervious to air.

I construct an air valve as follows: I form a valve seat seen at P, and fasten it firmly between two of the slats B. Through this seat is formed three holes seen at S, to admit air into the interior of the bed, on the top of the seat P, is fitted the valve M so as to swing up and down by means of the leather N, on its under side and which constitutes the hinge for it to swing on, and to make the valve air tight, and it is screwed to the seat P, by screws O. The upward or raised position of this Valve is shown in red lines'as When admitting air. I then form a hole O through the end of the frame A out of which the air is forced When a sudden movement is made on the bed, and to prevent the bed `from bursting and by Which movements the valve M is hoisted and a :fresh quantity of air is introduced into the bed and so on, and this fresh air is constantly brought into the hollow part of the bed, and almost directly in Contact With those reposing on it, by every movement Which may be made While on the bed, andnstill the bed retain all the Warmth desired, Which is of the utmost importance for the health of those using the bed, and of equal or greater importance for invalids.

What I claim is- The valve M, and bed, so constructed, and relatively arranged in connection with each 20 other, that the induction and expulsion of air through the bed, to ventilate it, results, from the movement of the bed caused by its use, essentially in the manner fully set forth.

THOS. TOLMAN.

Witnesses :Y

E. W. SCOTT, HENRY T. SNELL. 

